There’s a new pastor at Leonard United Methodist Church, and with her responsibilities she figures to be very busy.
Pastor Patty Hoppenworth will serve as a quarter-time pastor at LUMC while continuing as a half-time pastor at Dryden United Methodist Church. Specifically, she’ll be putting in 10 hours a week at LUMC and 20 hours weekly at DUMC.
For the pastor, a woman who enjoys what she does, the allotted hours are usually a formality. ‘We always end up doing more,? she said.
Hoppenworth took over Oct. 1 after having spent time filling in for the previous pastor, Carol Walborn. Hoppenworth was appointed by her district superintendent, Peggy Paige (who met with the Detroit Area Conference of the United Methodist Church) after Walborn had to step down for health reasons.
Previously, Hoppenworth’who’s been in the ministry for seven years’served at Marine City United Methodist Church.
While she’s getting to know the Leonard area, she sees a lot very likeable things in the LUMC congregation’even though it has less than 30 members.
‘The congregation is small, but the church building isn’t,? she said. ‘I love the people there, and they’re all like a family. You don’t have to ask them to do things. they automatically and pitch in.?
She noted that one family has a son who lights the candles before church and handles the offering plate. The older daughter plays the piano while the middle daughter helps Hoppenworth with the Sunday readings.
‘It’s like an eloquent dance,? the pastor explained. ‘They just step up and do what they’re supposed to do. One steps up and out and another steps in. It’s like a good family.?
While she likes the cozy size, Hoppenworth would like to work toward making the church grow a little. This includes being active in the community and evangelizing. She’d like to see about 15 more people join the church. Also, Hoppenworth hopes to promote growth by trying to do her part to reverse a trend of lack of church growth.
‘When I was growing up, all my friends at school went to church with their families,? she said. ‘My grandkids sometimes go to church with me or with their mom, and when they go to school and talk about church other kids ask them what it’s like.?
The remedy to this trend, she said, is to work harder to accomplish the purpose of the Methodist church: to evangelize and make disciples for Jesus Christ.
Hoppenworth grew up in Clifford and attended Methodist Theological School of Ohio. She’s not an ordained minister but rather a local pastor who completed a certification course from the school. She hopes to put her training and her ministerial approach to good use.
Growing up and helping out on a family dairy farm instilled in Hoppenworth the ways to answer her ministerial calling.
‘Farming is my approach to the ministry,? she said. ‘We all know that we don’t do the work’God does it. We plant seeds and trust God to make whatever we plant grow. I try to plant seeds all over everywhere I go in the name of Jesus Christ.?
Hoppenworth figures to be very busy in her double duties as pastor. If two weddings, for example, take place on the same day, she might find herself officiating a 2 p.m. wedding at one church and then a 5 p.m. wedding at another church.
‘There will be lots of visitation,? she said. ‘It’s important to get out and visit people along with the shut-ins.?
While it’ll require a lot of multi-tasking, Hoppenworth doesn’t mind. ‘I love it when I’m busy,? she said.
So far, the congregation likes what they see. ‘She has a lot of energy,? said Char Sutherby, a layleader at LUMC. ‘She is a good speaker and she’s a very dedicated, scriptural person.?
Sutherby hopes that the church can take care of its large, old building while building upon its membership.
‘We have been given the responsibility to care for it,? she said. ‘With that comes a lot of need to maintain it but to not compromise its heritage…you want the church to grow in faith but also have be practical and have the numbers there also.?